I just saw this and thought of you, my friendly blog reader!
Maybe we’ll get things figured out in time to save ourselves. But ultimately it’s about faith, hope and imagination. And making life worth living while we still have it!
“Just ‘cos I don’t know how, doesn’t mean I won’t know then…………Just ‘cos I don’t know now, doesn’t mean I won’t know when…………”
Hope you enjoyed the video.
Have a wonderful week!
xoxo Pam
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the week.
This word came up as Blake, Garrett and I were playing “telephone” one late evening.
We had a blast even tho there were only the three of us! Blake would whisper something to Garrett and then Garrett would come whisper it to me. Since there were only the three of us, I would go ahead and say it out loud. Garrett, being the wonderful son that he is, was playing the “right” way and actually repeating what he heard. Well, Blake decided this wasn’t nearly as much fun and so he switched things up. Blake had Garrett whisper a word to him, and then he changed it, before whispering to me! It wasn’t even close!
I’ll never forget that! We were just hanging out, playing and chatting with each other in the kitchen. Blake looking handsome with his summer tan. Garrett laughing and smiling, with his gap-toothed smile.
And that’s when I realized that the fun and kindness we share with each other is quintessential to the happiness in our family.
I wish everyone could feel like this. This feeling of completeness, of being able to just be who we are without trying to prove ourselves. This unconditional love that binds us together and makes us a family is a real, solid thing.
I don’t want to throw my happiness in anyone’s face, my friendly blog reader. That’s the LAST thing I want.
I want to enjoy my life in order to prove to others that it’s possible, because it is possible, but it takes work.
Like choosing my words and my thoughts.
Like believing in and cultivating the best of myself, as well as my husband and son.
Like speaking well of my husband and son, especially to them.
Like actively listening to their plans and schemes with real interest.
Like taking care of myself, so that I can take care of them. (which means saying no sometimes) and letting them take care of me and expressing appreciation when they do. (after all, they’re my crew)
I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, my friendly blog reader. My fondest wish is that you somehow feel it too! (If only I could bottle this feeling and sell it.……:)
What do you think? What’s quintessential to your happiness?
I’d love to read about it in the comments.
Have a wonderful week and I’ll be back on Monday with the Inspirational song of the week!
xoxo Pam
Today is Monday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week. (Just a quick reminder, I believe music has magic in it. It has transformative, healing properties and when properly administered, can solve many day to day issues. If you have a suggestion for a different song, I’d love to read it in the comments.)
After looking at the original video for this song (and deciding it was wayyyyy too dated), I liked this one much better!
Apparently, the parents of Annabelle McLelland were so ‘inspired’ by their little girl, they decided to put together this adorable video! Too cute!!!
I hope you enjoy it! :)
I’ll be back on Wednesday with the Inspirational word of the week.
xoxo Pam
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the week.
Last week, after I finished writing the first post for Fun, Blake took me out on the boat. While we were out there, Garrett called us to crow about the fact that he had completely beaten the video game he had been playing. He was very excited and when I handed the phone over to his father, he started talking about how he beat all the different levels. Blake said “Hey! Don’t tell me! I haven’t gotten to play it yet, and if you tell me too much, it won’t be any fun!”
Next we stopped at the island to let Tootsie play in the water. She just loves to search for a rock. In fact,
she’ll spend hours searching, if we let her. I’m not sure who has more fun, the dog or the people who get to watch her! ;)
To be perfectly honest, I really do get frustrated sometimes. Although I’d like to think that life can always be fun and wonderful, sometimes it’s just not. I don’t always know the right thing to do or say. Responsibilities pile up, dishes never go away and there’s always somebody unhappy about something.
Sometimes I wish I had a magic crystal ball so that I could see into the future. I’d love to know that my efforts aren’t being wasted and that everything is going to be all right.
But really, life isn’t about tomorrow, or yesterday. It’s about right now. Life unfolds and is created by how we handle the day to day. It’s important to remember to relax. Don’t waste time worrying about negative thoughts and visions. Focus on the NOW because it’s really no fun knowing how everything works ahead of time.
My darling husband and wonderful son are waiting patiently to watch a movie with me. So I’m going to go have fun hanging out with them.
I hope, my friendly blog reader, that you can go have fun with the people who mean the most to you.
What’s your idea of fun? Who do you get to have fun with this week?
I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments.
Have a great week and I’ll be back on Monday with the Inspirational song of the week.
xoxo Pam
Today is Monday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week.
This past Friday night was Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!! There were well over 300 people in the park, with the Library bringing in Water games, Christ the Shepherd giving out FREE snow cones, Clarkston Brandon Credit Union sponsored the evening and gave out FREE water bottles, rulers and pens and Papa Bella’s Pizza served dinner. Debbie ran the candy hunt (kids searched through pine chip bedding to get to the hard candies) and local DJ Janet Clair brought in music so I could lead the Chicken Dance and the Hokey Pokey!
I’m still floating in the happiness!!! 
Hope you’re enjoying your marvelous Monday, my friendly blog reader.
I’ll be back on Wednesday with the Inspirational word of the week.
xoxo Pam
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the week.
My son suggested fun word of the week and I couldn’t agree with him more!
What a GREAT WORD!! 
My son’s list of fun things to do is 1) bouncing on the trampoline with his friends, 2) roasting marshmallows for S’mores, 3) playing video games with his Dad 4) playing catch with Mom and 5) dancing!!!
My husband loves to ski, play video games with Garrett, go out on the boat and hang in the Gazebo with me!
Some of my favorite things to do…….. sing out loud, have tea with my lady friends, go out on the boat, and make Blake and Garrett laugh, as well as writing for this blog, my friendly blog reader!
Fun is like the frosting on the cupcake! 
Sure you could eat just the cake but it’s the frosting that really makes it special!
What do you think? What fun things do you like to do?
My darling husband is waiting to take me out on the boat, so I must say TTFN!
Have a wonderful week and I’ll be back on Monday with the Inspirational song of the week!
xoxo Pam
Today is Tuesday, and time for the Inspirational song of the week.
“Everybody needs somebody to leeeeeeeeean on, Put your body next to mine and dreeeeeeeeam on”
This is such a wonderful song by a group of the nicest guys!
Enjoy!
I’ll be back tomorrow with the Inspirational word of the week.
xoxo Pam
P.S. Did you see the Magic Wand Handbook came out yesterday? It’s only $10, so you know it would make a great gift, and it’s just in time for school.
Many years ago, while pushing my son in a stroller, I thought to myself “I wish I had a magic wand to help me figure out all of this “mothering” stuff”. A few minutes later, I saw a stick that could be turned into a magic wand. So I took it home, washed it off and painted it with my gold acrylic paint. Then I wrapped it with some white ribbon and finished it with some silk daisy’s from Michael’s.
I’ve kept this wand above my desk as a source of inspiration ever since. It reminds me that I have the power to make a difference in the lives of everyone I meet, especially my husband and son. Every day offers a new opportunity to show them how much I love them.
It was while looking at this wand last fall, that I got the idea in my head to write the Magic Wand Handbook.
“What is a Magic Wand Handbook?” you’re probably asking.
Well, it’s a book designed to help boost the magic already contained within you. Although you may not understand it, the magic is real. (Think about it this way, just because you don’t understand how a nuclear bomb works , doesn’t mean it’s not extremely powerful).
The Magic Wand Handbook is filled with 23 inspirational quotes, starting with Marianne Williamson, and includes quotes from Albert Einstein, Colleen Wainwright, Leo Babauta, and Jim Henson, just to name a few. You’ll even find a quote from a Dove chocolate wrapper as well as a chinese fortune cookie.
Measuring 3″ x 5″, this book is compact and fits neatly into your purse, or briefcase. The pages are laminated and bound on a spiral so that you can keep it next to the sink as you brush your teeth or wash dishes. If it gets a little schmutz on it, NO PROBLEM, it wipes clean!
The idea to build this came while I was thinking about my sister. I wanted some way to help encourage her on a daily basis. I remembered the days when we were young, standing next to each other in the bathroom as we did our hair. We’d talk to each other looking through the mirror. I wish I could say our words were kind and loving, but as teenage girls, they weren’t. 
Now that we’re older, we better understand how powerful words can be. I guess you could say this is my way of making up for all the horrible crap I said to her back in the day. (I Love You, Sis! xoxo)
This book is my attempt to be there in the mirror for her again, this time with love and encouragement.
And to be there for you too, my friendly blog reader.
I believe that by accepting hope and encouragement everyday, we become the magic we’ve been looking for.
When I get up in the morning and turn on the coffee pot, I flip through the pages and pick my “quote of the day”.
This morning, I picked the first quote of the book, from Marianne Williamson
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
Letting your light shine is your gift to the world. Your magic wand is simply a physical representation of it.
If you don’t have a magic wand yet, I do have some for sale (just contact me at pambelding at gmail dot com) (Below is a picture of my Magic Wand Tree thanks to Liz at Trinity Photo in Ortonville!!)
However, making your own is a very simple and fun process.
1)Simply start by taking a walk with the specific intention of finding your “magic wand”. When you see it, make sure to test its strength by bending it slightly. You don’t want to put a bunch of work into something that is going to crack and break easily!
2)Take it home and wash it off. Allow it to dry completely before you start painting it.
3)Then pick a color, or a bunch of colors and paint it. The key is to have fun! Enjoy the process of making your own magic.
4)After the paint is dry, use a hot glue gun, or white glue to attach any ribbons or leather strap. You may want to add feathers or glitter. It’s your magic wand. Make it as Awesome as you are!!!
5)Once it’s finished, keep it where you can see it everyday. Let it be a physical representation of your power to make a difference.
(If you love the idea of a magic wand, but know you won’t take the time to make it, you can buy one of mine, or I can make one for you. Just contact me at pambelding at gmail dot com )
It’s my fondest wish that your magic wand and the Magic Wand Handbook will give you the inspiration you need to get through your day with hope and joy.
The Magic Wand Handbook is $10. Simply click here or go to the products window at the top of the this page. Simply scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see it there.
Have a wonderful week, my friendly blog reader.
xoxo Pam
p.s. I’m going to postpone the Inspirational song of the week until tomorrow! For now, I’m going out on the boat with my husband and he suggests “I like beer” by Tom T. Hall
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the week.
I called a very dear friend of mine last week, just to chat.
During the course of our conversation, I got to tell her about “the Boat”. As I explained the part about the Mast-head being a reflection of your face, she said “I think I was supposed to talk to you today.”
I asked her why and she told me that she had something happen just a couple of days before that was really bothering her. She explained that she had reached out to someone on FaceBook whom she had known 20 years ago. Although there had been issues with this person in the past, being the sweetheart that she is, my wonderful friend figured that after all that time, it would be appropriate to send a friend request.
This person responded with anger and hate, accusing my friend of dragging up old wounds.
My friend was shocked and hurt. “I don’t know how to react.” she said. “I feel like I need to defend myself, because if I don’t then who will?”
I took a deep breath and told her the story about the dogs in Brasil and how I learned from passing these dogs everyday was that just because they barked, didn’t mean I needed to take it personally. Their reaction really didn’t have anything to do with me.
My friend was so happy to hear this!
She e-mailed me later and wrote “Do you remember the emotional issue we spoke of last week and you helped me with? Well, it tore me up for a few days. After we spoke I seemed to be much more at ease and that I made the right decision to just let it be. I am finding that with all of our every day blessings, friendships, laughter, love, excitement, and whatever else positive in my life I have easily been able to put that aside and let it just be a blip on my big screen shot of a day.”
I’m not ashamed to admit, my friendly blog reader, that I burst into tears when I read this. Tears of joy, of course! My dream of being an inspirational speaker, writer, artist seemed to be coming true! I felt like I was on the right path, doing what I’m supposed to be doing with the people I’m supposed to be doing it with! Huzzah!!!!
My dear friend was able to see her situation in a different light because I’d found the appropriate stories! I couldn’t be happier!!!!
And then came Monday night.
My darling husband invited me along to a business dinner that included one of the men he works with who brought his lovely wife, and three gentleman from a different company. One of these men I’ve met before, and we get along really well. He and I could sit and chat for hours(in fact, we have)! But this particular evening, there were other people at the table.
Just after we all sat down, this lovely gentleman asked me “So how was homeschooling in Brasil?”
So I told him. But I ended up talking for way longer than I should have.
Then he asked me about what I’ve been up to since we got back.
And once again, my mouth started running. I talked about the BB&E farmers market, where I do massage and sell my Tibetan prayer flags, and art.
I could tell at this point that I had over-extended the attention of the other people at the table, so I politely switched the conversation over to the lovely lady sitting next to me.
Later, after everyone had said their good-bye’s, I asked my darling husband “So, was I okay tonight?” To which he very tactfully replied, “You talked a little too long in the beginning, but you eased up as the night progressed.”
My feelings were hurt, to be sure. I hadn’t meant to be a conversation hog. I was trying to be charming.
However, now that I look back at this, my friendly blog reader, I’m embarrassed by my behavior, and pray everyone thought I was just overly enthusiastic and not a complete bore. (
I’ve since apologized to my darling husband, who, thankfully, is a very kind and understanding man).
After an appropriate amount of sulking, (a little less than 24 hours) and a chat with an understanding girlfriend, I decided to chalk it up to experience and move on.
I can’t always be appropriate. I’m going to make mistakes. The best I can hope for is to find the lesson and learn from it.
“And the lessons are just yet starting about grace and finesse”
I hope you have a great week, my friendly blog reader.
xoxo
Pam
p.s. I’m still working on that “thing” I alluded to last week. It’s coming along beautifully!!
Today is Monday which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week.
(I believe music is magic, it soothes and it mends. I offer the Inspirational song of the week as an ingredient to help you, my friendly blog reader put a little kick in our knickers, some joy in your heels and a boogie in your bunda! If you like it, wonderful!! If not, no stress. Feel free to leave me your idea of an inspirational song in the comments.)
I’ve always admired Frank Sinatra’s ability to carry a room. He was a truly talented man, and although he lived a long, prosperous life, I’m sorry we had to let him go.
Thanks to YouTube, we can keep his music and his legacy alive!!
xoxo
Pam
